Nelson Newsletter - July 2026

“But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”  Acts14:20-22

 

Dear Saints,

Imagine watching them stone Paul to death, only to see him get up and return to the same city where they attempted to kill him! Was he insane? Was it too many blows to the head? Not at all. Christ’s love motived Paul to risk his life and keep preaching the gospel. Crazy! Inspiring!

Paul returned to the cities where they had made disciples and gave this encouraging message, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven.” Wouldn’t that make the new disciples afraid and quit? No! Paul, covered with scars, spoke boldly. Paul himself was the message! His courageous example inspired their faith in God!

Tribulations are God’s method of refining us and making us more like Christ. (Hebrews 12:4-12 and James 1:2-4) God’s grace is sufficient for our trials. (2 Corinthians 12:9) We simply need to humble ourselves and ask God for grace to persevere and trust the Holy Spirit for the strength.

Some of our church members in Atlanta are going through difficult times. People in the churches we work with are also facing hardships. We have personally heard from some of you, our ministry partners, about your trials. If you need support at any time, please contact us! We are here to, “Bear one another’s burdens and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Atlanta Church I had a deep conversation with Gilbert in the Home Depot parking lot this week. He told me he gave his life to Christ while in prison recently. Miraculously, he is still married with 4 children, 8 and under. It seemed like he sincerely repented and knows the Lord! We want God to overcome our selfishness to sincerely love others – including unbelievers!  

Prayer & Praise

Carbondale Church Keep praying for David and Stephanie to sell their house. Pray they would walk in the Spirit to love each other, their children, and others while waiting. Pray for Kerianna and Jeffry to manage a house full of children, including fostering a 16-year-old pregnant girl and 3- and 5-year-old boys. Pray for Laura and Brent and their 3 children who have been attending recently. They are feeling more at home and enjoying the fellowship! Brent is not saved. Finally, pray for Eve and Gavin’s relationship. He is not saved yet. Eve renewed her faith recently.

Virginia Church Pray for Mariella’s rebab to help her shoulder and hip. Pray for Jeff as he is extremely ill. Please pray for his wife and children too. Pray for Brian and Jen’s relationship and her upcoming labor and delivery to go well. Pray for Liz who feels overwhelmed by caring for her family and friends. Ask God to give the church hope, peace, and faith to carry on strong!

Atlanta Church God just provided a full-time job for Ward back in the movie industry! Praise God! Pray for Michelle’s brother, Scott, who is in very poor health, but knows the Lord. Please pray for Danelle’s surgery on July 28^th to be successful. Ask God to give our church quality time with people - including Gilbert, Gwinnett, Orangel, our neighbors and co-workers.

        

 

Our church praying “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”

 

Yours by God’s grace,

Steve and Danelle    

        

www.reliant.org

11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832

Nelson blog: www.gcmnelson.com.          Steve's email: steve.nelson@reliant.org   

Nelson Newsletter - June 2026

 

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15

 

Dear Saints,

Jesus came here to save sinners like us! He loves all sinners, died for all, and wants everyone to repent and trust Him for eternal life. He has entrusted us to proclaim this Good News and to live exemplary lives that draw people to Him. Here are some recent stories and prayer requests.

Atlanta As you recall, our church has been learning to share Christ using the Bridge Diagram. In the past, our church wrote our testimonies, critiqued one another, and then printed them to hand out. Recently, I helped my friend, Rich Suplita, to write and print his faith story. I thought you would be inspired by it. (enclosed) You may want to write yours someday. It is a great tool! I gave Chris and Roberto my testimony in Spanish yesterday! Be ready! Ephesians 6:15.

Last week I returned to visit my friends Orangle and Gwinnett at the Amazon Dropoff.  We had a good conversation. Keep praying for their salvation! “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16 Never, never give up praying for others to come to Jesus!

Danelle and I joined our friends, Rich and Mary (with the sign), and a group of college students in Athens for a day of outreach and equipping. I had wonderful conversation about God with a campus policeman named Eric. He wanted to read Secure In An Insecure World, so I mailed a copy to him when I returned home. Danelle and I also joined in an edifying discussion with the students on how to handle discouragement. It was such a blessing to see their hearts for God!

 

   

       

   

 

Carbondale Church Kerianna and Jeffery started fostering a 16-year-old pregnant girl. They need God’s grace to love her well. The ladies are eager to start their prayer group again too.   

 

Prayer & Praise

Carbondale Church Pray for David and Stephanie to sell their house. Pray for Jeffrey and Kerianna’s foster child to come to know Jesus and His care, and for them to love her well.

Virginia Church Pray for work for Will. Also, he and Mariella are reaching out to a family in crisis that needs to come to know the Lord Jesus. Pray for the Shirleys to encourage these saints.

Atlanta Church Pray for us to experience God personally so that our love for each other and for unbelievers would grow. Pray too for God to provide consistent work for our son-in-law, Ward, who has started his own carpentry business.

Thank you,

Steve and Danelle    

 

  

        

www.reliant.org

11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832 

Nelson blog: www.gcmnelson.com     

Nelson Newsletter - May 2026

 

“The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” Exodus 33:11

 

Dear Saints,

We see from the verse above that Moses and God were very close. They shared a deep, intimate personal relationship. Verse 12 says, “Then Moses said to the Lord, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.” God knew Moses' name. And Moses found favor with God. Only Christianity offers this face-to-face relationship with God! We too can know God face to face because of the work of Christ on the cross for us. When we asked Jesus Christ to save us, He forgave all of our sin and made us His children. Wow! Now we can walk with and talk with the living God – face-to-face! We can also help others experience this relationship with the living God by sharing the gospel with them! (Romans 1:16) Here are some works that God has been doing to help others find Him and grow in their faith.

Mario The young man who works at the Amazon Return Center actually goes by Angel. 😊  I guess he thought Mario would be easier for me to pronounce! Anyway, I finally met him again! He said that he has been enjoying Secure In An Insecure World. While I was waiting for him to return from his break, I started a conversation with another employee named Gwinnett. She wanted to read my book as well! Pray for their salvation and for me to be able to see them again.

Atlanta Will and Fred, Grace and Ward’s twins, prayed to receive Christ recently! Thank you for praying for this family. Please continue to intercede for them. Our church has been learning how to use the Bridge Diagram to share the gospel. Here are Grace and Danelle roleplaying one Sunday during our gathering. Grace was the unbeliever while Danelle shared Christ with her.

 

Carbondale Church Danelle and I visited the Shirley’s and their church over Mother’s Day. It was encouraging to meet some of the new church members who are eagerly seeking God. It was a special day with the stars aligning for Mother’s Day, Stephanie’s and her daughter Esther’s birthday, and our 51st anniversary, all on May 10th! (Second photo) We visited my sister in Springfield, TN on the way home. She just had a new grandchild on May 19th! Both mother and son are doing well. Praise God!

Prayer & Praise

Carbondale Church Pray that David and Stephanie’s transition to a new home would go well so they can help host the meetings again soon. Pray for God’s wisdom as they all seek to build into each other’s lives. They have a few new families with some unsaved folks among them.

Springfield Church Pray for lives to be touched during their outreach at the park in June.  

Virginia Church Pray for them to make the most of their time together, for strong marriages, for Mariela's shoulder to heal, and for Liz's sister to hear from God during their gatherings. 

Atlanta Church Pray for our compassion for unbelievers to grow, for boldness to share Christ, and for us to use the new evangelism tools with our neighbors and friends. Pray for Angel and Gwinnett to be saved. Ask God to provide consistent work for our son-in-law, Ward.

Thank you,

Steve and Danelle    

 

        

www.reliant.org

11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832 Nelson blog: www.gcmnelson.com      

 

“They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” “Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’” Matthew 21:16 NLT

Dear Friends,

It is deeply gratifying to see our children and grandchildren listen to their conscience – to the Holy Spirit speaking to their hearts! (Acts 24:16) John wrote, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4) Eagerness to learn, openness, honesty, and humility are character qualities God wants in our children as well as our own lives. After all, these are the marks of a true disciple of Christ! God help us be humble and teachable. Our children are imitating us! Here is a recent story that illustrates having a childlike faith.

Men’s Meeting Last week we had our church men’s meeting at Grace and Ward’s house. Will and Fred are their two six-year-old sons - pictured in this photo. Will (on the left in the photo) was insistent on joining our men's group. He even got dressed up and wore a long-sleeved dress shirt, even though we cooked hot dogs and sat outside around a picnic table. After we started eating, his father explained to Will what we do. “We go around the group and ask each guy, “What has God been teaching you lately?” Will jumped right in and said, “God has been teaching me to be nice.” I asked him, “Who have you not been nice to?” He responded, “My parents and my brother. I have a problem with anger.” We were all touched by his honesty and self-awareness. Even the children were praising God that evening!

When each guy finished sharing what God was teaching them, and how we could pray for them, Will asked Freddy the same question. He said, “Freddy, what has God been teaching you?” Freddy didn’t hesitate. He replied, “Math and Reading.” We had a hard time not laughing, but his sincere answer was also profound and true! Grace is his homeschool teacher.

Mother’s 100^th Birthday Party God gave us a beautiful sunny day to celebrate mother’s 100^th birthday in her back yard. It can be dicey weather in March. Mom sat and talked for hours with her large family. We assembled to thank God for her kindness, generosity, and the love that she has demonstrated toward all of us. She has been a tremendous gift from Him!

Mario He works at the Amazon Return Center. That is where I met Mario a few weeks ago. I gave him and his coworker my testimony tract. I briefly shared how much I needed God’s forgiveness and that is why I trusted Jesus Christ to forgive my sins and make me His child. It was quick since other customers started coming to the counter. A week later I returned a package for my mother and Mario was there again. I asked him, “What did you think about my testimony?” He responded, “I really liked it!” With that green light, I proceeded to share the entire gospel since nobody was in line. Tears came to his eyes as we talked. I sensed his openness to the Holy Spirit working in his heart. A customer came up so I had to leave. I have returned several times to follow up and he has not been there. I’m going to keep trying!

 

Prayer & Praise

Carbondale, IL Church Many of their children are now playing baseball, which makes attending their Sunday gatherings difficult. Pray they would be creative to build community.

Springfield, TN Church Pray for their cookout/outreach at the park April 18^th. Ask God for good connections with the visitors, and for Him to touch lives with the gospel.

Virginia Church Pray for the two churches. They are both struggling with different problems – one spouse with addictions and another who is a prideful unbeliever.  

Atlanta Church Pray for more opportunities for me to meet with Mario and for his salvation. Pray for our church to grow in our compassion for unbelievers. Pray for our church to learn some new evangelism tools, and that we will enjoy using them with our neighbors and friends.

Humbly Yours, 

Steve and Danelle    

PS. Danelle and I also went to Birmingham, AL to see our granddaughter, Jasper, run at a track meet. She ran a PR and we were able to visit briefly with her afterwards. She really appreciated us coming to support her!

 

 

 

        

www.reliant.org

11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832

Nelson blog: www.gcmnelson.com      

 

“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.”  Philippians 3:20 NLT

 

Dear Children of God,

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Did you know that Patrick was actually British? He was 17 when he was kidnaped by Irish raiders and held captive for seven years. During that time, he had an encounter with God while working out in fields. Patrick escaped and returned to England. But God had different plans for him. God sent him back to Ireland where he spread the gospel of Christ for 40 years. He died in Ireland on March 17, 461. What can we learn from how God used the trauma in Patrick’s life? Here are two more examples of God’s wake-up calls. Romans 8:28

Trauma, isolation, illness, death, as well as birthdays, weddings, and other major events can cause us to stop, listen to God, and evaluate our lives in light of eternity. God got my attention recently as I had vertigo and my blood pressure was 193/89 one night! I was not sure if I would make it. God used that trauma to remind me of my mortality and to refocus on His purpose. One more event…

God uses birthdays to get our attention. We will celebrate my Mother’s 100^th birthday on March 13^th! We are deeply grateful for her influence on our lives! We don’t want her to leave us, but we know there will be a day when she departs. She is a citizen of heaven! We want her to eagerly wait for Jesus to return and take her home. Are you eagerly waiting for Him to return for you? It is soul-cleansing to do so! Come Lord Jesus!

GA Outreach Last week I went to Athens to join my good friend, Rich Suplita, to share Christ with students on the UGA campus. We had several in-depth gospel conversations, especially with a coed named Morgan. She was very excited to get a copy of Secure In An Insecure World to read! We also passed out my testimony tract on and off campus. I always enjoy my fellowship with Rich! His heart for people is refreshing to observe. We enjoy our own a non-stop conversation for hours about sharing Christ, building the church, and making disciples.

 

Prayer & Praise

Carbondale Church They have twenty-five people meeting with them now, including two new families. Pray for them to come to know Christ. Pray too for the youth to take ownership of their faith and to help one another grow during their gatherings.

Springfield Church Praise - Mike’s father is better! Pray for people to get saved and join them.

Virginia Church Pray for them to grow in their devotion to Christ and love for one another.

Atlanta Church Pray for more opportunities for me to meet with Nick. He is sharing the gospel with Eric, a co-worker. Eric was raised Catholic, and is sincerely seeking to understand that salvation is by grace and not by his own efforts. It’s exciting to watch God work in their lives!

UGA Students Pray for Morgan & the other students we met to turn to Christ for eternal life!

Looking for Jesus’ return,

Steve and Danelle    

 

 

 

 

 

 

                Several of the students we met

 

 

 

 

        

www.reliant.org

11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832

Nelson blog: www.gcmnelson.com